Now Jericho was securely shut up because of the children of Israel; none went out, and none came in. 2And the Lord said to Joshua: "See! I have given Jericho into your hand, its king, and the mighty men of valour. (Joshua 6:1-2)
"See! I have given Jericho into your hand..." The phrasing is noteworthy; God says, "I have given," not "I will give."
Such a declaration might sound unusual to the logical mind. The walls of Jericho were still standing tall, its city gates securely shut, with not a hint of physical evidence that Israel's conquest had been accomplished. Yet, in the spiritual realm, the victory was already achieved. This spiritual principle holds an essential lesson for every believer: the assurance of our triumphs begins with recognising what God has already ordained in the spirit realm.
In this context, the directive "See!" is less about physical vision and more about spiritual insight. It beckons us to shift our focus, beckoning us to a deeper realm of understanding. The true essence of seeing in the Biblical sense lies in perception, insight, focus, and spiritual sensitivity. This form of vision allows us to anticipate victories even before they manifest physically. Those who grasp visions from the spiritual realm possess an extraordinary ability: they can accomplish what seems impossible in the natural realm.
Joshua's story reinforces the idea that our battles are fundamentally spiritual. Two main takeaways are evident from this narrative:
1. The Battle Belongs to the Lord: Joshua and the children of Israel didn't have to engage in traditional combat. The battle wasn't theirs to fight; it was the Lord's. This defies human logic. No swords clashing, no strategies being drawn up – just a divine assurance that victory was already theirs.
2. Worship is a Weapon: In the face of towering walls and formidable adversaries, the Israelites worshipped. To the outsider, their act of worshipping around the city walls might have seemed like sheer foolishness. But in God's eyes, their worship was a fragrant offering. Their faith and obedience turned an act of praise into a mighty weapon of warfare.
Drawing parallels to our lives, there will be 'walls' – formidable challenges that seem insurmountable. Financial woes, health crises, relationship breakdowns – our personal Jerichos. The key lies in our perception. Like Joshua, we must learn to see beyond these walls, recognising that our victory lies not in focusing on the obstacle but in aligning with God's perspective.
The Apostle Paul echoes this sentiment in 2 Corinthians 4:18, urging believers to focus not on the visible but on the eternal unseen. Our human nature often gets bogged down by the immediate, the tangible, the 'seen'. But a life of faith is rooted in the 'unseen' – the eternal promises of God, which are more real than any temporary circumstance we might face.
This walk of faith is not just a suggestion; it's a divine requirement. As stated in Romans 1:17, "The just shall live by faith." Walking by faith and not by sight, as mentioned in 2 Corinthians 5:7, compels us to look beyond our immediate circumstances and into the promises of God.
In our modern context, when challenges arise in our spiritual journey, it's not uncommon to witness believers retreating, perhaps thinking that distancing themselves from communal worship will somehow alter their circumstances. But as the story of Jericho suggests, it's precisely in those moments of adversity that we should be drawing closer to God, not away from Him.
Jericho wasn't just another city; it was the inaugural conquest for the Israelites as they entered the Promised Land. Its fall symbolised a first fruits offering, setting a precedent and tone for the triumphs that were yet to come—a powerful beginning to a divine journey.
Now Joshua had commanded the people, saying, "You shall not shout or make any noise with your voice, nor shall a word proceed out of your mouth, until the day I say to you, 'Shout!' Then you shall shout." (Joshua 6:10)
Throughout their journey from Egypt to the Promised Land, the Israelites often grumbled against the Lord and His provisions. In Exodus 16:2-3, they complained about lack of food, leading God to provide manna from heaven.
Again, in Numbers 14:2-3, their lack of faith in conquering Canaan led to their wandering in the wilderness for 40 years. Considering their history, Joshua's command in Joshua 6:10 for silence was wise. Keeping their complaints at bay, they focused solely on God's plan, ensuring they didn't jeopardise their awaited miracle at Jericho. Sometimes, silence truly is golden.
18And you, by all means, abstain from the accursed things, lest you become accursed when you take of the accursed things, and make the camp of Israel a curse, and trouble it. 19But all the silver and gold, and vessels of bronze and iron, are consecrated to the Lord; they shall come into the treasury of the Lord." (Joshua 6:18-19)
The riches of Jericho, instead of enriching the Israelites, were to be dedicated entirely to God's treasury. This act mirrored the principle of the "first fruits offering", where the initial yield of a harvest was offered to God as an acknowledgement of His providence. By refraining from taking Jericho's spoils, the Israelites essentially recognised God's hand in their victories, solidifying their commitment and setting a spiritual precedent for future conquests.
And Joshua spared Rahab the harlot, her father's household, and all that she had. So she dwells in Israel to this day, because she hid the messengers whom Joshua sent to spy out Jericho. (Joshua 6:25)
Throughout the Bible, the act of hiding bears a profound symbolism of intercession. Moses' mother, hiding her infant son from Pharaoh's decree, was not just protecting a child but preserving a destiny. Moses would grow up to be a liberator, leading Israelites out of Egypt.
Rahab, the harlot of Jericho, hid the Israelite spies, risking her life in the process. Her act was not merely one of physical concealment but also of spiritual intervention, aligning her destiny with God's chosen people.
Intercession, as illustrated by these acts of hiding, brings forth two significant benefits:
1. Divine Favor: Intercessors, like Rahab, receive divine favour. Rahab's household was spared during Jericho's fall, a testament to the rewards of aligning oneself with God's purpose.
2. Protection from Wrath: Just as Moses was shielded from Pharaoh's wrath, intercessors often experience God's protective hand, safeguarding them from impending dangers.
In essence, the Bible illustrates that those who intercede, standing in the gap for others, are often endowed with favour and protection. Their sacrifices and prayers don't just benefit those they advocate for but bring blessings upon themselves as well.
Also, this underscores the point how you deal with God's messengers will bring either favour or wrath from the Lord. Throughout scripture, those who honoured and protected His envoys reaped blessings, while those who mistreated them faced dire consequences.
Then Joshua charged them at that time, saying, "Cursed be the man before the LORD who rises up and builds this city Jericho; he shall lay its foundation with his firstborn, and with his youngest, he shall set up its gates." (Joshua 6:26)
When Jericho fell, Joshua proclaimed a specific curse upon its restoration. This curse, though spoken centuries prior, eerily came to fruition during the reign of King Ahab. The Bible records, "In his days, Hiel of Bethel built Jericho. He laid its foundation at the cost of Abiram his firstborn, and set up its gates at the cost of his youngest son Segub, according to the word of the LORD, which he spoke by Joshua the son of Nun" (1 Kings 16:34). This tragic event underlines the profound weight and accuracy of prophetic words within the scriptures.
It's essential to dispel a prevalent misinterpretation: Joshua's curse didn't mean Jericho would lie desolate perpetually. By the time of the New Testament, Jericho had risen to notable stature. It was the stage for various significant events in Jesus' ministry, such as His healing of two blind men (Matthew 20:29; Mark 10:46; Luke 18:35), His memorable interaction with Zacchaeus (Luke 19:1–3), and the narrative of the Good Samaritan (Luke 10:30). Presently, Jericho stands as a bustling city in the West Bank.
So the LORD was with Joshua, and his fame spread throughout all the country. (Joshua 6:27)
Joshua's legacy as a leader wasn't solely due to his military expertise or strategic acumen; it was primarily rooted in his deep relationship with God. The scripture recounts in Exodus 33:11 that while Moses spoke with the Lord face-to-face and then returned to the camp, young Joshua lingered, not departing from the Tabernacle. This devotion was evident as "the LORD was with Joshua" (Joshua 6:27).
For genuine success in our lives, like Joshua, we must prioritise and cherish the Lord's presence above all.
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